Three Cambodians have joined an international group of 54 cyclists pedalling through

Southeast Asia to assess the bicycling tourism potential of the region.

Cambodia is spending $50,000 to ensure the cyclists are well catered for during their

ride through this country; $20,000 from the Ministry of Tourism, and 10 provincial

governments are contributing $3,000 each.

The cyclists have paid $1,500 each to join the tour, which is intended to promote

tourism co-operation. It started on March 15 in Myanmar, goes through Thailand, Laos

and Cambodia, a distance of 2,337 km, and will conclude on April 8, in Bangkok.

The three Cambodian cyclists will ride through ten provinces, a distance of 843km.

This will take about 11 days, starting today from the Laotian border at Dong Kralo,

to the Thai border at Cham Yeam.

Meanwhile, 21 British bicyclists have crossed the Cambodian-Thailand border at Poipet

as part of Bicycle Cambodia, to raise $4,000 for a Cambodian Red Cross primary health

care project in Chong Kal district of Oddor Meanchey.